Portable device for moistening the fingers or adhesive surfaces



(No Model.)

J." CHASE. PORTABLE DEVICE FOR MOISTENING THE FINGERS OR ADHESIVE SURFAGES.

No. 474,812. Patented May 17, 1892.

efwzwm f? UNTTED STATES PATENT O FICE,

JAMES CHASE, OF ROCHESTER, NEWV YORK.

PORTABLE DEVICE FOR MOISTENING THE FINGERS OR ADHESIVE SURFACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,812, dated May 17, 1892.

Application filed September 12, 1891. u Serial No. 405,486- (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES CHASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable Devices for Moistening the Fingers and Adhesive Surfaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable devices for moistening the fingers in counting notes or currency and also moistening adhesive surfaces, such as postage-stamps, labels, envelopes, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel, efiicient, and economical device or apparatus for the purposes specified, whereby the moistening-liquid is elevated from a cup or reservoir through the medium of a simple pumping mechanism so constructed and arranged that a slight pressure of the fingers will cause the water or liquid tobe delivered for moistening the fingers or adhesive surfaces.

To such end the invention consists, essentially, in the combination of aliquid-holding cup or reservoir, a support therein, an elastic bulb connected with the support in the cup or reservoir and having a water-delivery orifice in its top portion and acheck-valve at the bottom portion of the bulb which admits water thereinto ,but prevents its return therefrom into the cup or reservoir.

The invention is illustrated by, the accompanying drawing, in which the figureis a vertical central sectional view of a moistening device or apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now de scribe the same in detail, referring to the screw-socket 8 in the lower portion of an elastic pumping-bulb 9, which is preferably oval or egg-shaped and stands perpendicular when secured in proper position on the tube 6. The top portion of the elastic bulbis provided with aliquid-delivery orifice lO, (one or more,) and on the exterior of the bulb, at its upper portion, is placed a layer or pad 12, of felt or any other suitable absorbent materiahwhich willtakeup the liquid issuing from the delivery-orifice 10 and distribute it for thepurpose of moistening the fingers or for moistening the adhesive surfaces pressed upon the absorbent layer or pad. A check-valve stem 13 is arranged in the tube 6, and the upper end of this stem is provided with a conical or other suitably-shaped check-valve 14, adapted to seat upon the valve-seat '7 of the tube 6 to close communication between the elastic pumping-bulb and the hollow support 2.

In practice the cup or reservoir is supplied with a suitable quantity of water, some of which will flow into the hollow support and rise into the tube 6, so that if the elastic bulb be compressed the contained air will be discharged through the orifice or orifices 10, and when the bulb is released a quantity of water from the cup or reservoir will instantly flow through the tube 6 into the bulb after the manner of an ordinary pump. If the bulb be again compressed, the check-valve will be forced tightly to its seat, and consequently some of the water contained within the bulb will be delivered through the orifice or orifices 10, and thereby saturate the absorbent layer or pad 12.

If the device is used for the purpose of moistening the fingers in counting notes or currency, it is only essential to press the fingers on the absorbent layer or pad, and likewise if postage-stamps, labels, envelopes, or other objects or articles are to be moistened it is only essential to press them upon the absorbent layer or pad in a similar manner.

It will be obvious that a constant supply of water can be maintained in the elastic bulb and that a slight pressure thereupon will maintain the absorbent layer or pad in a saturated condition to properly and effectually moisten the fingers or other objects or articles.

The cup or reservoir can be of suitable dimensions to contain a large quantity of water, and'since the water contained in the bulb will not readily evaporate it will be obvious that the device or apparatus does not require frequent supplies of the moistening-liquid, and moreover the absorbent layer or pad can be preserved in an approximately uniform degree of saturation, so that an undue quantity of water is not likely to be supplied to the fingers or to the adhesive surfaces.

By providing the exterior of the upright elastic bulb with an absorbent layer or pad, as described and shown, it will be obvious that all surplus water will return to the cup or reservoir for its reuse in saturating the layer or pad.

The layer or pad is preferably cemented to the elastic bulb; but it may be otherwise attached. I have exhibited the layeror pad as extended over the delivery orifice or orifices 10, but do not limit myself to this specific construction. If, however, the layer or pad extends over the orifice or orifices 10, as shown, it is preferably left detached or disconnected from the bulb at such point, so that the water will readily issue through the orifice or orifices to saturate the layer or pad.

The invention is useful for many purposes, but is particularly designed for the use of bank officials in counting notes or currency and for meistenin g postage-stamps, envelopes, and labels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination of a water-holding cup or reservoir, an elastic bulb having a waterdelivery orifice in its top portion and an opening in its lower portion through which the water flows from the cup or reservoir into the bulb, and a check-valve which admits water from the cup or reservoir through the opening in the lower portion thereof and prevents the return of such water from the bulb into the cup or reservoir, substantially as described 2. The combination of a water-holding cup or reservoir, a support therein, an elastic bulb connected with the support in the cup or reservoir and having a water-delivery orifice in its top portion, and a check-valve at the bottom portion of the bulb which governs the flow of water from the cup or reservoir into the said bulb, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a water-holding cup or reservoir, a hollow support therein, a tube rising from the support and having a valveseat, an elastic bulb connected with the support and having a water-delivery orifice in its top portion, and a check-valve seating on the valve-seat of the tube to admit water into the bulb and prevent its return therefrom into the cup or reservoir, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a Water-holding cup or reservoir, a support therein, an elastic bulb connected with the support, having a waterdelivery orifice in its top portion and provided with an absorbent layer or pad on its exterior, and a check-valve at the bottom portion of the bulb,which governs the fiow of water from the cup or reservoir into the said bulb, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a water-holding cup or reservoir, a flanged hollow support secured to the bottom portion of the cup or reservoir and communicating with the interior of the latter, a tube rising from the support and having a valve-seat at its upper end, an elastic bulb secured to the tube and having an absorbent layer or pad on its exterior, and a check-valve seating on the valve-seat of the tubeto admit water into the bulb and prevent its return therefrom into the cup or reservoir, substantially as described.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES CHASE. [n s.] 

